18 WOOD NOTES WILD. 
There is no mistake about this being in the major 
key, and a bit of choice melody. Delivered, as it was, 
with delightful animation, the effect was cheering to the 
last degree. Other voices joined, and immediately there 
was a grand chorus, in which, much to my amusement, 
the frogs and toads, silent up to this time, took a lively 
part, not to be outdone by the whole choiring hosts of 
orioles, catbirds, pewees, sparrows, and other feathered 
rivals. The only fault with the performance was its 
brevity ; in a few minutes all was silent as before. The 
robin sings more hours than almost any other bird. His 
songs are short and he repeats them many times, but he 
is by no means stereotyped in his forms; indeed, he is 
fair at extemporizing when the mood takes him. A com- 
mendable variety will be discovered in the annexed 
melodies. 
